Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-13
"HOUP-LA.'
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
There was very little o. bravado cayetv
when the good ship Civic slipped adown the
channel that night. Ohicer' AM men alike
were very quiet, and On Snow crept softly
in and cut Of the cabin shared by Is master
with Lacy and Hartog. and laid ont his
me SIS things with silen, and reverent SYM
pethv for t gravity on that masters face.
for Bootiss had not, as yet. got over the
agony he felt as he encountered the yearI-
i'm misery in his wife's BEAUTIFUL e. es, and
as Mignon's PARTING sobs icii upon his ears.
In truth II was Ole of the three most bitter
days tnat ever cas-. Their shadow over thu
brightness OF his pleasant and sunny lie.
For himself, young Tom had no feelings
cave these tho widest exultat on and de-
light Until the last moment ne had never
dared to think i: possible ne could accom-
pany his master on The expedition. Night
after NIGHT be had wa.erel his pillow with
tears at the thought oil being Left tehind.
and The w. H. o.. course ne was very sorry
for the cause, and he pulled as long a face
over tue misfortune as anybody. though the
young monkeys heart was beaung ami
throbbing with joy at the chance it gave
him. This was how the chance occurred.
The very day before the regiment was to
lsavs its quarters. Terry fell upon the stairs
leading to one of tho troop rooms, and slip
ped his knee cap.
Going - for him out Of tho question,
and not to b thought o.; in fact nobody
did think Of il for . moment. And then
Bottles uad to cast about in order to find
somebody suitable TO I'll Terry's place, for
Terry. although he ives in reality . groom,
vet was accustomed to do much about his
masters person
''rll take young Houp-La," he said sud.
denly to Mira Boobies, after he had gone
over In his mind all the likely men he knew.
HE knows how to do for me just ss well Is
Terry does. I'll take him."
And 20 young Tom was rugged out In
haste, and followed his masters fortunes
into tho land of the Pharaohs.
Boobies choice proved to be . very wise
sslection. The voyage out was the most
miserable time he had ever passed; true, be
had at one period been more unhappy, but
never bad b known before what it was to
really miss daily presence out of his life,
not ons, but two-his wife and Mgnon.
In every respect young Tom suited him;
he knew Just what he wanted, and just when
he wanted it; hs was great At holding bis
tongue, and never bothering his master with
questions about this or that, a. . strange
sarvant must necessarily have done BE
was intensely sympathetic to the sleepless
pain In Capt Ferrers eyes; and, after all
what sympathy IL thsre which b % sweet a
the sympathy Of those who themselves have
known the extremes Of pain and miseryi
Young Tom, too, was sympathetic In
silence. -
Thsn. moreover. apart from his services
to his master, he proved quite host in him
self by way Of relieving the tedium and
WEAKNESS which ths voyage was to the men,
to whom every hour seemed ;he length Of a
day, every mile - long - . dozen. It is
always hard to keep men amused and con-
tent on board ship, particularly on board
. troop ship, where, with all ranks, life is q
continuous fight for daily breal. to say moth
ing OF comfort, from port to port.
It is q tedious and irksoms enough time
to the officers, who have the best accommo-
dation which the ship affords; out for those
who live between deckA with but few
papers and amusemcnts and but limited
amount Of becr end tobacco, matters are
still worse; and it is not easy to find words
to convey anything like an adequate idea O;
what that l,fe's WEAKNESS and ennui really is
It was here that young Tom, from being
only q sharp-tongued general favorite, sud.
denly grew, Like Capt Garnst's head, as
Lacy remarked one night whom they were
steaming past the African coast, into "a
masters permission and some help from the
sailors, be got the tailor to make him up q
set o: clowns garments, and furbished ur
III his old circus tricks with such right good
will that more than once be had the honor
Of appearing before the most distinguished
officers on board the Clyde He pleased
them each and all 80 greatly that when be
took his white hat round for contribution,
to the fund for the wives and children who
had been left behind, he obtained 50 good &
sum that BOTTLES, Whose hcart was tenlel
to every man who could in any way Up
prpach Or share his feelings on that sub ect
mde it up to the even. and respectable
amount of Is out of his own pocket.
And then at last thsy steamed into til,
hartor OF Alexandra. and the voyage wa,
over. For some Of them it was very neal
indeed to tho Close Of the voyage Of life
But they never seemed to think Of it, actor
was the order Of the day, and dispiritednss
and down-heartsdne0 apparently had howl
hFom thsif midsk ~ w. energy ant
hustls-tall lancers clanker along the haif
ruined eastern-looking streets, tramped 4
and out Of the bazaars and cafes, laughin,
In good-natured British contempt At nearl,
everything they saw, grumbled in tru
British style ct all discomfort, swor
Foundly At the hies and thsdust, hob-nobbe'
with sunburned tars from tho ships Of war 4
The harbor, and scattered every where tn
energetic signs Of British rule and occupa
ton. 2A14Ass
"Iay. Bm," mid one stzapping, broad
shouldersd rid jhcket to ono Of group o
his comrades one night, ''wam't the chap
lain preaching about the seven plaques o
Egypt the Sunday afors We left 'omef'
Ayr responded Bill, sending . grea
cloud Of smoke into ths midst q cloud Q
80 ~ rsnembsr what they wsr
'Why," answered Bill, hedtating1y, ''ther
was frogz, Aiss and kce-and darkness, AM
blood-that's four. And hail, and blains-
I suppose they're boils, OF wussNand tn
loo Of the frstborn."
by gumr' calculated the A1st, 'but o.
Pharaoh must have I'D some grit in him
Stand al that ! wonder II they bad an,
hacy IN Aem dayA" aad then b, too, tool
. mighty draw ct His Gig pips, end 1T Il
dies in hi immsdiats neighborhood have Ii
full benefit thereof, after which he pa
cntm9tuo1aly into the midgt q tho swazr
By way Of dstinc4ly adding insult to injury
The Aiss did not particularly seem to q
pcsciats the attsnfaon, and they forthwith
ssttlsd down upon Private John Wood, No
~, - Il thsy bad . special miasion iron
Arah Pesha to determine tho exact valu
Of grit" - grit" goes IN The ranks Q
ths British army.
sBlowed II ever knew The HE q cha
quoth Private John Wood, No III. why
old Pharaoh must have I'D . hide LIZ
6ee1lebuh."
CHAPTER ".
Private John Wood, No. IA, was mot q
only man in the Scarlet Lance1 who's
grit" the dies took IN opportunity q
valuing. Thsy settled down upon Lacy q
4 b were . sweet and toothsome mors;
such - did not often come In their way
which probably was exactly the true stat
a The case.